General Information

Scientific Name: Pueraria lobata
Kudzu, over a period of several years will kill trees by blocking the sunlight.
when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation.

Detailed Description

The flowers which bloom in late summer have a very pleasant fragrance. capable of reaching heights of 20–30 m.

Kudzu was introduced to the United States as an ornamental, and was later widely planted for erosion control.

The plant is now thought to be one of the most harmful non-indigenous plant species in the United States.

Habitat and Distributionexternal image cabin.jpg

Sometimes called the "weed that ate the south."


History

The name comes from the Japanese word for this plant, kuzu.
It is native to south Japan and southeast China. Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876.

Control Measures

Kudzu control through mechanical and/or chemical means is difficult, expensive, and often not effective. The plant grows at such a fast rate that any progress made by control measures is quickly lost in new growth.

Works Cited

http://www.jackanthonyphotography.com/yahoola/kudzu/
http://ag.udel.edu/enwc/research/biocontrol/kudzu.htm

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